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Matt Stroup

Football Daily Dose

Week 15 Injury Roundup

For a moment back in Week 5, it looked like Ryan Mathews’ season was about to take off. In that Sunday night game against the Saints 10 weeks ago, he ran 12 times 80 for yards (and one acrobatic score), adding six catches for 59 yards.

But rather than acting as a springboard, that game proved to be random blip. Over his next eight games, Mathews averaged just 3.5 yards per carry with no touchdowns, including a hollow 25-carry, 65-yard, zero-catch performance last week.

And on Sunday, The Mathews 2012 Frustration Tour officially came to an end when the San Diego RB sustained his second broken collarbone of the year (he broke his right collarbone during the preseason, and broke his left collarbone on Sunday). And if Ronnie Brown (hamstring) isn't able to play next week, San Diego could end up deploying a Jackie Battle-Curtis Brinkley backfield combo in Week 16.

As for Mathews, at age 25 there’s certainly hope for a resurgence next season, but he’ll once again come with plenty of injury risk after playing a career-low 11 games this year.

Torrey Smith sustained a concussion in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. The hit-or-miss WR has a favorable matchup against the Giants next Sunday, but he’ll have to get cleared in order to play in Week 16.

For a moment back in Week 5, it looked like Ryan Mathews’ season was about to take off. In that Sunday night game against the Saints 10 weeks ago, he ran 12 times 80 for yards (and one acrobatic score), adding six catches for 59 yards.

But rather than acting as a springboard, that game proved to be random blip. Over his next eight games, Mathews averaged just 3.5 yards per carry with no touchdowns, including a hollow 25-carry, 65-yard, zero-catch performance last week.

And on Sunday, The Mathews 2012 Frustration Tour officially came to an end when the San Diego RB sustained his second broken collarbone of the year (he broke his right collarbone during the preseason, and broke his left collarbone on Sunday). And if Ronnie Brown (hamstring) isn't able to play next week, San Diego could end up deploying a Jackie Battle-Curtis Brinkley backfield combo in Week 16.

As for Mathews, at age 25 there’s certainly hope for a resurgence next season, but he’ll once again come with plenty of injury risk after playing a career-low 11 games this year.

Torrey Smith sustained a concussion in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. The hit-or-miss WR has a favorable matchup against the Giants next Sunday, but he’ll have to get cleared in order to play in Week 16.